Topic: Cleveland: Nehst Studios News & Info

[MuRrAy HiLL]

Since they're making at least a 1-year stay in Cleveland, I thought I'd start a new thread:

Movie company ready to set up shop in Cleveland
Updated: 5/6/2009 7:16:48 AM  Posted: 5/5/2009 6:10:44 PM


CLEVELAND -- Nehst Studio claims it is ready to turn Cleveland into a permanent home to shoot movies.

Nehst has a one-year rent-free lease to turn part of the Cleveland Convention Center into a movie operations center.

The company began interviewing candidates for production jobs Tuesday.

...

More at:
http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/news_article.aspx?storyid=112974&catid=3

[rockandroller]

I wonder about these people.  I just read a short but good article in Northern Ohio Live (the story is not available online anywhere) that mentioned that they charge you $10 to hear a pitch idea.  If you ask anyone in the creative business, this is not a good or ethical business practice.  They claim it's to "weed out" nutjobs.  What, nutjobs don't have $10?  That is not a credible argument.  If they want to have a fundraiser, then have one. But making people pay to pitch is not an acceptable practice in this industry.  It's like when someone wants you to pay to audition with them.  It's just not done.

[doctabroccoli]

"From a production standpoint everything is here. I've got a beach. I've got the city. I've got stadiums. There's nothing not here," she said.

I like her.

[jpop]

I wonder about these people.  I just read a short but good article in Northern Ohio Live (the story is not available online anywhere) that mentioned that they charge you $10 to hear a pitch idea.  If you ask anyone in the creative business, this is not a good or ethical business practice.  They claim it's to "weed out" nutjobs.  What, nutjobs don't have $10?  That is not a credible argument.  If they want to have a fundraiser, then have one. But making people pay to pitch is not an acceptable practice in this industry.  It's like when someone wants you to pay to audition with them.  It's just not done.

What's the pitch process normally like? Is it kinda like a job interview .. you get your foot in the door somehow, etc?

[rockandroller]

It's a little unclear what they intend to be.  If they are interviewing production people, it sounds like they are building a production studio.  If they are interviewing talent, they must also intend to handle casting, which is very odd.  To hear they are accepting pitches is further odd, as though they are a sort of mini studio.  My guess is they intend to be a soup-to-nuts type of facility and intend to produce local works as opposed to acting as a local production house for films coming to our area and thus intend to have some kind of, what, producers and directors who will listen to local pitches?

You don't just walk in somewhere and pitch your idea in the real entertainment world. You write a treatment (short synopsis of the plot) and shop it around via an agent to various production companies to try to find someone who is interested.  Once you have a producer and/or director attached, they would go around to the various studios and pitch the project to the studio; hopefully a studio agrees to make it and they enter into an agreement with the producer and his or her production company (they "option" the script; this is for a limited time, such as 2 years).  Most of the time, pitches aren't accepted.  About 80% of those that are accepted, the "option" to make the movie expires before anyone does anything on it.  Those that get greenlighted get produced and hopefully released if all goes well.

This is removing like 800 people in the process and hooking up some rather strange bedfellows, which could be good or bad.  Writers will likely not have any protection or representation to protect their ideas and they are going to pitch them to a group of people who will do, what, exactly, with their great idea? 

I'm all for us having this kind of business here, don't get me wrong, I just wonder what the heck kind of company is this going to be, if they are hiring production people AND talent AND taking pitches?  It's weird.

[jpop]

Hmmmm .. good questions.

[brtshrcegr]

Beats me....

Here's a copy of the press release from the City.  Seems like its an "all of the above" deal as far as who they are supposedly hiring.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 5, 2009
News Advisory

Nehst Studios Scouting Local Production Talent

CLEVELAND – Nehst Studios is scouting local film industry and non-industry craftsmen, actors, writers, etc., as well as support crew such as graphic designers and musicians in preparation for possible film productions.

WHO: Ken Silliman, Chief of Staff, City of Cleveland
Larry Meistrich, Chairman & Founder, Nehst Studios
Dana Offenbach, Head of Production, Nehst Studios
WHAT: Photo and Interview Opportunities
WHEN: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
1:00 PM
WHERE: Cleveland Convention Center
500 Lakeside Avenue
Lobby in front of Room 207
Enter via the main entrance at the West arch on Lakeside.

- 30 -

[jpop]

I mean .. shouldn't they be doing all of this once the tax credit thing is actually approved? What happens if it's not?

[brtshrcegr]

Well I think the key terms from the above release are that they are "scouting" for local talent, in preparation for "possible" film productions.  Seems as if its almost more of a PR move than anything else, committing them to nothing in reality.

Anybody hear how it actually went?  Would be nice if the PD or one of the TV stations would actually do a follow-up.

[rockandroller]

Ugh, I would have stayed far, far away from this.  It must have looked like the American Idol tryouts.

[jpop]

Found the following here: http://www.fwv-us.com/page/fwv-bpb-branded-and-nehst-studios-strike-blockbuster-three-party-deal (at the end of the article)

NEHST Studios

NEHST Studios is a diversified film production, financing and distribution company that integrates the most powerful trends in entertainment and technology marketing and is headed by industry veteran Larry Meistrich - producer of "Sling Blade" and "You Can Count on Me" and founder of indie film studio Shooting Gallery - and Internet entrepreneur Ari Friedman. One of Nehst's goals is to remove entertainment industry barriers and open up the pitching and development process to anyone with a great idea. Through its inclusive, open pitch sessions and Aspiring Filmmaker's Bootcamp, NEHST Studios is revolutionizing the filmmaking process by giving filmmakers with fresh ideas a chance to pitch directly to producers. The company, which launched at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival, is currently developing dozens of film and television projects. For more information on NEHST Studios, visit http://www.nehst.com/.

[rockandroller]

Thanks jpop, that's a good explanation.  I will re-state my opinion though that the $10 to pitch an idea is not very ethical.

[327]

I will re-state my opinion though that the $10 to pitch an idea is not very ethical.

I'm with you on that... I think the lack of writer protection is a lot more questionable than the actual fee, but WTF with the fee?  What does $10 buy you?  An audience with a couple dudes?  That's messed up.  It's presumptuous, to say the least, charging people for talking to you when you don't even have to say anything in return.  It's just an icky relationship, so I guess in a way it is unethical.   

[brtshrcegr]

Heh heh heh....it's not that I want them to fail; to the contrary, I'd love to see Nehst soar.  But please don't blow smoke up our a$$'s, we've been the victim of way too many empty promises to subject ourselves to this game once again:

Nehst Studios draws employment seekers to job fair

By JAY MILLER

10:07 am, May 6, 2009

About 40 would-be film hands turned out for a job fair at the Cleveland Convention Center Tuesday in response to a call from Nehst Studios for actors, writers and film industry craft workers.

The city of Cleveland has offered Nehst free space in the convention center to give the company a leg up on its plan to build a full-blown film production operation in Cleveland. The only thing standing in the way of that plan, said Nehst president Larry Meistrich, is passage of a movie tax credit by the Ohio General Assembly and the signature of Gov. Ted Strickland.

Ivan Schwarz, executive director of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, said bills are moving through both houses of the Legislature and one of those could be passed by this summer as part of the state’s two-year budget.

...

More at:
http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20090506/FREE/905069971

[jpop]

Thanks jpop, that's a good explanation.  I will re-state my opinion though that the $10 to pitch an idea is not very ethical.

Another thing is that, the casting website that they featured in one of their articles in connection with Nehst (I think it was in the PD at some point) actually charges a fee for you to submit yourself in consideration for one of their roles. They don't charge you to put up your headshot and resume, and they don't charge you to search through casting notices, but they charge you a fee to submit your materials in consideration for a role.

I mean .. I can understand these practices (along with the $10 thing), but .. I dunno. Something about that just makes it feel like they're more money-hungry than interested in really benefiting the local economy, no? I mean, I can understand they're a business, but I don't like the way they don't fully disclose this stuff right away. It does feel a bit shady.

(I don't think they charge a fee for these open calls they've been having, however.)

[rockandroller]

Thanks jpop, that's a good explanation.  I will re-state my opinion though that the $10 to pitch an idea is not very ethical.

Another thing is that, the casting website that they featured in one of their articles in connection with Nehst (I think it was in the PD at some point) actually charges a fee for you to submit yourself in consideration for one of their roles. They don't charge you to put up your headshot and resume, and they don't charge you to search through casting notices, but they charge you a fee to submit your materials in consideration for a role.

NO WAY, OMG.  They will be completely ostracized by the creative community if they do this.  This is extremely, extremely unethical.

[jpop]

Well, I'm adopting my usual "wait and see" stance. I really hope their impact on the local community will be positive because I think a filmmaking company like this can spin off into so many other amazing opportunities (film school, etc).

Buuuut .. I really hope they're not trying to come in and take advantage of people.

By the way, plenty of casting websites do the fee charge thing. I don't know if that's the norm, and those aren't exclusively attached to one film company, either. Those are also in much larger markets.

We'll see what happens, I guess. None of the roles that were up at the time seemed particularly interesting to me.

EDIT: the website is screentest.biz

[rockandroller]

Yes, there are lots of predators out there in the creative world just like any other business.  I *know* the norm, and I can 100% guarantee you this is NOT an acceptable practice in the real entertainment industry, you do not pay to audition.

[rockandroller]

Here is just a sample of the type of warning that appears on all legitimate audition-related sites:

"If any casting call or audition listed on this page asks for money or any fees what-so-ever, we need to hear from you! At no time are you to pay to audition. We review all calls posted on this site as much as possible but unfortunately some can get by us. Therefore, we need your help to keep this page free of scam artists trying to take your money. At no time should you have to pay to appear in a film, pay for pictures for any project and if asked to do so, please contact us ASAP."

Here's another; though it's about Canada and another company, it's the same here in the US:
Street Cents talked to some talent agents who ACTRA (the Canadian actor's union) recognizes as being legitimate. They said aspiring actors and models should stay away from the Model and Talent Bureau and other businesses like them.  They say you don't need to pay to audition, or to get an agent. "

Here's info about auditioning for Nickelodeon:
"NO! Never ever pay someone to audition. If they ask you to pay, then it is surely a scam. Legit casting directors, agents, and managers never charge any up-front fees whatsoever....So the answer is NO! It costs absolutely nothing to audition for the  Channel or other major networks! "

[MyTwoSense]

Yes, there are lots of predators out there in the creative world just like any other business.  I *know* the norm, and I can 100% guarantee you this is NOT an acceptable practice in the real entertainment industry, you do not pay to audition.

Agreed.  However, there are situations you might have to pay for film/processing.  I do castings often and I know that some agencies wont pick up certain things.

Say we're casting for the SI swimsuit issue (when are we going to do a mens issue ?) we might pay for everything, but that means the model doesn't get the any pictures and has little or know control over how they are used.  [thats very oversimplified and not the gospel]

[jpop]

This has nothing to do with film or processing, though. This just has to do with submitting ideas/a headshot and resume. There is no film or processing involved in that.

[rockandroller]

I know what you're talking about MTS.  Certain large casting agencies (like central casting in LA) keep their own digital files and you have to pay them because they take your pic and keep it on file and there is a fee associated with that.  But first off, that's CENTRAL CASTING IN LA, and that's not what we're talking about here. Obviously if you go get headshots done you pay for those but you pay a photographer, not an agent.  And paying for your pix doesn't mean you get control of them by the way, lots of photogs will either not let you have the rights to the pix (or in old school terms, the negatives) or they will charge you an additional fee to have them going forward.  This is not what we're talking about. We're talking about people who AREN'T EVEN CASTING FOR A PARTICULAR FILM who want you to pay a fee to audition. It is just not done.

[MyTwoSense]

I know what you're talking about MTS.  Certain large casting agencies (like central casting in LA) keep their own digital files and you have to pay them because they take your pic and keep it on file and there is a fee associated with that.  But first off, that's CENTRAL CASTING IN LA, and that's not what we're talking about here. Obviously if you go get headshots done you pay for those but you pay a photographer, not an agent.  And paying for your pix doesn't mean you get control of them by the way, lots of photogs will either not let you have the rights to the pix (or in old school terms, the negatives) or they will charge you an additional fee to have them going forward.  This is not what we're talking about. We're talking about people who AREN'T EVEN CASTING FOR A PARTICULAR FILM who want you to pay a fee to audition. It is just not done.

I agree about the submissions.  Most large company's don't even take submissions.  If we get them (except publishing/tv news stories) we return them to the person who submitted them.  Either the person who received it sends it back or they send to their legal department to send back.

I get approximately 10 scripts, story ideas, DVD's(from singers/songwriters), home video's, etc. a day.  I don't even look at that stuff.

[rockandroller]

This has nothing to do with film or processing, though. This just has to do with submitting ideas/a headshot and resume. There is no film or processing involved in that.

EXACTLY.

[jpop]

We're talking about people who AREN'T EVEN CASTING FOR A PARTICULAR FILM who want you to pay a fee to audition. It is just not done.

No, according to their audition website, they charge you a fee when you want to submit your headshot and resume to be considered for a particular role that is available. You specify which role you'd like to audition for, pay a small fee (it's like $3.95 for each submission), then you get to submit your materials in regards to a specific role that is available for casting on their website. There are already some projects listed on there that they're casting for.

[MayDay]

Yes, there are lots of predators out there in the creative world just like any other business.  I *know* the norm, and I can 100% guarantee you this is NOT an acceptable practice in the real entertainment industry, you do not pay to audition.

Just like the modeling scams that pressure people into shelling out $$$.

[rockandroller]

We're talking about people who AREN'T EVEN CASTING FOR A PARTICULAR FILM who want you to pay a fee to audition. It is just not done.

No, according to their audition website, they charge you a fee when you want to submit your headshot and resume to be considered for a particular role that is available. You specify which role you'd like to audition for, pay a small fee (it's like $3.95 for each submission), then you get to submit your materials in regards to a specific role that is available for casting on their website. There are already some projects listed on there that they're casting for.

I'll say it again.  It is Just. Not. Done. this way.  It's just not acceptable.

[baseballmn907]

This has nothing to do with film or processing, though. This just has to do with submitting ideas/a headshot and resume. There is no film or processing involved in that.

EXACTLY.

Sounds a lot like paying $100+ for applications for various colleges.

[jpop]

Well, any excitement I previously had for this company is quickly diminishing and being replaced with worry and trepidation. lol.

[brtshrcegr]

We're talking about people who AREN'T EVEN CASTING FOR A PARTICULAR FILM who want you to pay a fee to audition. It is just not done.

No, according to their audition website, they charge you a fee when you want to submit your headshot and resume to be considered for a particular role that is available. You specify which role you'd like to audition for, pay a small fee (it's like $3.95 for each submission), then you get to submit your materials in regards to a specific role that is available for casting on their website. There are already some projects listed on there that they're casting for.

Well just to play devil's advocate for a moment, could they really have some sort of unsavory business model based on $3.95 a submission?  I mean, if it was $10 as discussed before that's one thing, but $3.95?  It seems like maaayybbbee a legit argument could be made for "administrative costs" or something.  I understand that having a fee at all is not in line with industry norms, but at $3.95, could it maybe be just an innocent (but poorly advised) choice to cover the cost of doing business?

[X]

We're talking about people who AREN'T EVEN CASTING FOR A PARTICULAR FILM who want you to pay a fee to audition. It is just not done.

No, according to their audition website, they charge you a fee when you want to submit your headshot and resume to be considered for a particular role that is available. You specify which role you'd like to audition for, pay a small fee (it's like $3.95 for each submission), then you get to submit your materials in regards to a specific role that is available for casting on their website. There are already some projects listed on there that they're casting for.

Well just to play devil's advocate for a moment, could they really have some sort of unsavory business model based on $3.95 a submission?  I mean, if it was $10 as discussed before that's one thing, but $3.95?  It seems like maaayybbbee a legit argument could be made for "administrative costs" or something.  I understand that having a fee at all is not in line with industry norms, but at $3.95, could it maybe be just an innocent (but poorly advised) choice to cover the cost of doing business?

I was going to say the same thing.  I understand it's not standard business practice, but I doubt they are trying to scam people at $3.95 a pop.  Or even at $10 a pop.  If that's there plan, they'd be better off walking around Downtown in a hard hat trying to convince people that they are construction workers who just backed over some rebar, puncturing their gas tank, and that they need $5 for a gas tank repair kit.

[rockandroller]

The $10 was to hear a pitch, which as far as I know is still an accurate price.  So you have to pay to pitch and pay to audition. Whatever the amount, IMO, and what will be the opinion of many other people, it is not right.

If they need to raise money to support their business model, they should go about it in more transparent ways.  They would be welcomed into the community and it would be a great way for them to meet professional creative people (technical people and performers) by having a couple of fundraisers targeted to those who are trained in these arts.  They could approach local businesses and get to know them by doing a silent auction (for example, catering companies, who they will be using for craft services during shoots), etc. 

[CleveChiNola]

^lets give them the benefit of the doubt.  Maybe they are using a small fee to weed out people who are not serious about their idea. 

[jpop]

Yeah, I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt at this point, too.

I really hope they're not adopting these practices because they basically have no competition in Cleveland at this point.

[rockandroller]

^lets give them the benefit of the doubt.  Maybe they are using a small fee to weed out people who are not serious about their idea. 

I plan to give them the benefit of the doubt and will at least "wait and see."  However, many in the artistic community will not do this and it could be a very difficult black eye to heal from as a starting point.  Requiring a fee does not "weed out" those who are not serious.  Crackpots and wanna bes can easily come up with $3 or $10, they do it all the time for "modeling schools" and similar places.